Feb. 7 event at U.T. Middle School chance for open, honest dialogue on topics selected by the students
PETERSBURG — The Upper Township Education Association is inviting students, parents and others to engage in open and honest conversations on student-selected topics.
The event, hosted by SpeakUp!, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Upper Township Middle School.
Stated goals are starting conversations, building relationships and creating safe and inclusive communities where students thrive.
The organization was founded in the late 1990s by Martie Gillin, who is now 86 and still attending as many of the events as she can.
Gillin raised 10 children, including the organization’s inspiration, Bob Gillin Jr., and its executive director, Martie Gillin Bernicker.
Bernicker said SpeakUp! was inspired by her brother, a young gay man who died of AIDS in 1992 at the age of 30. She said his courage to be honest about his struggles has inspired others to speak up about theirs.
“It was my brother’s wish that people would be able to talk more openly about difficult topics,” Bernicker said.
SpeakUp! was started in 2000 in an effort to help youth engage differently with adults in their lives.
“Highly innovative and youth-driven, SpeakUp! creates a safe, non-judgmental environment where teens and caring adults can be open and honest about tough topics such as stress, drugs, alcohol, mental health, sex and relationships,” Bernicker said. “Through our program, participants realize they are not alone, gain the courage to ask for help and have the guidance to find it.”
The first SpeakUp! event, which was intended to be the only one, was held in 2000 at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and attracted about 650 people, Bernicker said.
“She thought this would be a one-time thing,” Bernicker said of her mother. “It was so incredible in its design — it is based on the idea that we all want the same thing, for our youth to arrive at adulthood safe and enjoy the journey,” Bernicker said.
The following year there were about 900 people and in 2002, more than 1,000.
After that, Bernicker said, it became clear that pulling off events of that size was difficult, so they decided to create a school-based program, initially working only with high schools in the Philadelphia area, then branching out into middle schools and to some New Jersey institutions.
The program focuses on the core concepts that it’s not always clear who is struggling, because of that it’s important to make is easier for young people to talk about their struggles and that when they do have the courage to speak up, there are adults ready to encourage and support them.
“It’s counterintuitive, but sometimes it can be hardest to talk to the people you are closest to,” Bernicker said.
She said fear of disappointment is a strong emotion in youth and that’s why it’s important to create more adult confidantes through communication.
Bernicker said the event would include an opening session with a keynote message and then participants splitting up into four breakout groups to tackle the areas chosen by the students leaders.
In fact, Bernicker said, the youth run the entire show. The student leadership team plans the event, serves as its emcees, reads the rules and plays a different parts in the interactive opening session.
Bernicker said the program involves going into the school and creating a leadership team, then working with its members to determine what four topics are the most important to discuss.
“The cool part about that is while they are picking topics, they are talking to peers about things that are tough to talk about,” Bernicker said.
The program also trains school adults to facilitate talks that are open and non-judgmental and offer a level playing field.
Bernicker said the organization collects a lot of data through surveys and follows up with the schools on what it finds.
“The number one protective factor in a young person’s life is a positive relationship with a trusted adult,” she said. “SpeakUp! is committed to building supportive relationships between students and adults.”
Bernicker said data show that 96 percent of participants plan to use what they learned to build stronger relationships.
Parenting adults who attend the events say they gain insight and an appreciation for youth perspectives and challenges, learn from the experiences of other parents and practice skills to help listen to and support youth. They also see schools as partners in helping youth thrive.
UTMS science teacher Michele Carey collaborated the connection with the school after hearing Bernicker speak at her son’s college graduation.
“I wanted to bring this program to our school,” Carey said, noting it’s supported and funded through the Upper Township Education Association.
“I think it’s a good fit for any school,” Carey said. “I think that is something lacking everywhere, not just in Upper Township.”
Carey said the student leadership team includes Madelyn Saul and Quinn Smith, who took part in the presentation during the Board of Education meeting Jan. 23.
Carey said the student leadership team consists of about 30 students, who brainstormed to come up with the four topics: Mental health, bullying/acceptance, expectations and school environment.
“I think it’s a going to help us build stronger relationships between teachers, parenting adults and students,” Carey said. “And help parents understand students better and the pressures that they are facing.”
She called the event a “great tool to get our whole community together to help our teens.”
Registration is necessary and available at speakup.org until 9 a.m. the day of the event.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff